There are a number of threads about what books everyone loves, but what about books you hate?

My top three books I found to be a waste of time and money are:

Calculating God by Robert J. Sawyer
IMHO the most badly written book I've ever read--and I've read quite a few.

Flashforward by Robert J. Sawyer
Another of Sawyer's flops. The story has an interesting premise but it's written so badly I felt like the time spent reading it would have been better spent if I had been in prison.

The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert A. Heinlein
I'm a big fan of Heinlein's works and have read many of them, but this book made me feel like I was on the moon--a dark, cold wasteland. Very boring, a real disappointment.

Almost any bestseller, with the 3 inch title and author's name, trying to capitalize on the last book with a 3 inch title by the same author. If I want formula I'll watch television or a Hollywood movie. If I want literature I'll read something/anything else.

Perhaps you should stay away from authors with the first name Robert.

I hated The Emperor's New Mind by Roger Penrose. I refuse to give an Amazon link so you can't go and buy it. He tries to prove how man's intelligence is unique and can not be replicated by a computer. Homo-centric hogwash. I guess it's a bit esoteric. I also detest the entire Harry Potter series as a bunch of self-conscious condescending drivel. I do love anything written by a Robert. Just no Rogers, please. ;-)

LOL, nice catch.

Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen.

Worst. Book. Ever.
Seriously, it's awful and I've got to do it for Literature. It's vile. I cant wait for it to be over.

I love that book.

What's so bad about it?

I just cant get into it and because I skim read things, I don't have much idea what's going on. It'd probably be better if I wasn't being forced to read it though.

Perhaps. Actually I'm a big fan of Heinlein's works. It just so happens that one of his books--in a collection of great reads--I found very boring. I will definitely stay away from Sawyer's books though. I only read two of them and both made the top worst books I've ever read.

Agree with DChristopher ... one of the best books EVER.

I've actually never read anything by any of those authors ... perhaps I'll check into them.

Based on the two I've read I strongly advise against buying anything by Robert Sawyer. Heinlein on the other hand was a great author and I recommend most of his books. Stranger in a Strange Land, The Cat Who Walks Through Walls and Friday in particular.

all consipracy theory books

fiction or reality ones?

all the religious books

anything by William Faulkner and JRR Tolkein

How can you say that of Tolkein! I love that mans work.

As for books I've hated, Eragon was abhorrent, and thats all I can think of right now.

Sweet Jesus, there was another poor soul who suffered that book?

Another writer whose output I have not yet found myself able to enjoy is Stephen Baxter. He's almost a one-trick pony with his Xeelee Sequence. Even when his stories start out in, say, Roman Britain, they end up in a non-story of a story arc thousands or millions of years in the future.

They're not even interesting explorations of the social ramifications of scientific advance because his premises are so ridiculously far-fetched that it's not possible to seriously consider them.

His only tolerable works are the Manifold: stories and his collaborations with Arthur C. Clarke.

Koran

'The Long Dark Tea Time of the Soul' by Douglas Adams. Don't get me wrong, I like his work but this book is just so incredibly boring, and it makes you feel stupid for not finding it amusing. I'm not saying it doesn't have any funny quips but as a whole I just find it dull.